There are set numbers to guide people to monitor fluctuations in the human body before it is too late. The limits are defined for weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose level and there’s heart rate which should also be monitored from time to time.
A research professor of epidemiology and environmental health at the University of Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions and spokesperson for the American Heart Association Michael LaMonte says, “If it’s too low, or too high, it can indicate heart problems,” “But it can also be tricky, since your heart rate can be impacted by a lot of different things, including environmental conditions such as heat, humidity or cold.” So here’s all you need to know about heart rate and how the fluctuations can be interpreted and explained in a better way for you to understand.
The Ideal Heart Rate is Explained Below:
So, according to the American Heart Association, anything between 60 and 100 beats per minute at rest is considered normal but, it should be on the lower end. The lower heart rate indicates that the heart muscle is in better shape and doesn’t have to work hard. The research shows that 90 beats per minute are riskiest in men and that it can cause death as compared to men having a heart rate lower than 50 as per cardiologist and medical director M.D. Nieca Golberg at NYU Grossman School of Medical.
Hence it is better suggested by Cardiologists that the lower the heart rate is better, I consider a normal heart rate to be between 45 and 85 beats per minute,” says Walid Saliba, M.D., a cardiologist and director of the Electrophysiology Lab at the Cleveland Clinic. “If you’re sitting and not doing anything, a heart rate of 100 beats per minute is abnormal.” On the flip side, he adds, “if you’re athletic and very well-conditioned, there should be no alarm bells ringing if your resting heart rate is just 45 bpm.”
Understanding The Fluctuations in Heart Rate
Unless you are an athlete the fluctuation in heart rate will always be examined by a doctor. Some medical conditions are also the reasons for changes in heart rate says Saliba.
- Thyroid:
Hyperthyroid is one of the reasons for the increase in heart rate as the body produces too much thyroid hormone and hence you may experience abnormal heart rhythms.
- Anemia:
Lower iron and anemia is another reason as with age the need for oxygen in the body rises. About 40% of men and 22% of men in their 85s and about 7% of men and women in their 65-74 have anemia or iron deficiency. This condition compels the heart to pump more blood to make up for the lack of oxygen as per Saliba.
- OTC Drugs:
Some drugs as per LaMonte like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) can rise your heart rate. It is usually temporary and can stop once you stop consuming these meds.
On the other hand, bradycardia, a condition of too-slow heart rate can also become common and Joyce Oen-Hsia M.D., a cardiologist at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven says, “As some people age, the wiring of the electrical conduction system of their heart frays”. There are also certain situations and conditions where people who otherwise have a healthy heart after their body produces less thyroid hormone or when they take certain medicines such as beta blockers can also face heart problems.
Depending on your heart rate doctors will recommend more tests if it is concerning. To start with they will recommend measuring electrical signals in your heart which is the electrocardiogram (EKG) followed by an echocardiogram or heart ultrasound. And considering a situation where the tests cannot provide answers then you may have to wear a 24-hour heart monitor.
These issues related to heart rate usually get resolved only after you have recovered from conditions like hyperthyroidism, anemia, blood pressure, etc. In conditions like Bradycardia which has not been caused due to medications implantation of a pacemaker can also be recommended to speed up the heart.
What Can You do to Avoid The Risk of an Emergency?
Devices like Apple watches, Fitbits and Google Pixel can help you monitor and alert your heart rate. But, it is also to be considered that the accuracy of the monitoring devices can also be unreliable sometimes. It was observed in 2019 that the Apple Watch 3 was accurate 95% of the time while the Fitbit charge 2 was accurate 91% compared to ECG.
Tracking can be good if you have certain medical conditions as mentioned about says Oen-Hsiao but “you don’t want to drive yourself crazy tracking data.” Some people keep monitoring their heart rates but, panic after they see fluctuations in them. It is recommended that if you are using a fitness tracker and you see fluctuations in your heart rate Oen-Hsiao stresses that you do refer to a doctor about the same. It is not because there is some risk involved but because the doctor can better confirm and put the cardiac monitor on you to wear at home to make sure you are ok.
Goldberg says that in general, the rate should be 80-85 percent of the maximum heart rate of your age. There are certain target heart rates as per age that should be considered but if you are on medication then your heart rate can rise or fall accordingly and may not be as per the target.
Certain precautions will keep your heart healthy besides the gym such as:
- Non-consumption of caffeine and nicotine.
- Water intake.
- Monitoring your heart rate.
These three are very basic precautions that everyone should take irrespective of their age. It is necessary that you avoid consuming caffeine and nicotine. This is not just applicable to your heart but also your overall mental and physical health.
Keeping yourself hydrated will help in blood circulation and turn regulates your heartbeats. Further, it is also advisable to monitor your heart rate and pulse. The easiest way to do it is by keeping one of the thumbs on your wrist where the vein is felt.
So all this points out that heart health is extremely important and it can help you better if you use tracking mechanisms and other methods to keep your health intact.
